L.B. Morris School which two years ago was expanded to accommodate the growing population.

In a surprise decision, the Jim Thorpe Area School Board decided at its Monday, Nov. 9 meeting to move ahead with the construction of a 6-8 grade middle school at a yet-to-be-determined location.

Read the TIMES-NEWS front-page article here.

Summary: No public input before the decision was voted on.  Director Strubinger tried to delay the vote to allow for public opinion but his recommendation was not seconded.

Here’s how we got here: A committee was established and met behind closed doors for a day and a half reviewing research. Based on that day and a half meeting, the committee decided for the 6-8 middle school because:

1. k-8 schools are not popular anymore (In 1988, there were 5,552 such schools across the country. By 2001, there were only 3,170 still in use.);
2. the in-town school is different in population from the mountain school;
3. a middle school would improve scheduling and allow for common planning time among teachers;
4. bring district populations together at an earlier age;
5. make academic and athletic clubs easier to build and manage;
6. allow for age-appropriate emotional supports;
7. and provide a variety of teaching styles in the same building to meet the different learning needs of different students.

Please read the entire article and decide for yourself and let your school directors know how you feel.